The home security systems we have access to in our lives are effective at catching or deterring those that wish to break into our houses. In television or movies, getting a good image of the burglary on your camera is hardly a compelling scene. This leads to more outlandish mechanisms used by property owners in the face of unknown invaders.
Home Alone is the quintessential movie when it comes to DIY property protection. Pitting the ingenuity of a ten-year-old kid against two bumbling, but aggressive property invaders. Kevin Mcallister, the young protagonist, relies on misdirection, manipulation, and brutal mechanical force to deter the villains. One of the most well known components of his innovative burglary deterrents was a trap involving two paint cans that swing into the burglars' faces, causing some painful trauma.
The Purge is a more recent movie based on the premise of there being one night per year where there is no law and no actions will count as criminal acts. The protagonists consist of an upper-middle-class family that just wants to survive the night. The father of the family is, in fact, the owner of a business that specializes in innovative property protection. The ultra-violent nature of The Purge results in some very impressive home security systems. This includes bulletproof windows, solid steel reinforced doors, retractable metal slabs for further entryway protection, and a network of security cameras.
Home Alone 2 is the sequel to our earlier entry and features Kevin once again defending himself, in fact against the same criminals! Now he is hiding in a New York brownstone in the midst of major repairs. The criminals know what they are up against, so they are far more aggressive; unfortunately for them, so is Kevin. Armed with an arsenal of tools and construction materials, Kevin assaults the two men with fire, brick, and nails. At one point, he drops a 6-foot iron pipe onto them.
Mr. Burns's House is a staple of the beloved TV show The Simpsons. The abode to Springfield's richest and cruelest man has some pretty aggressive home security systems. Perhaps, the most iconic feature is his pack of vicious attack dogs, which always appears following a menacing statement of “release the hounds.” Over the years, more components have been revealed, including multiple trap doors, a laser defense system and, at one a point, an unstoppable fitness instructor robot.
While your property may not have a wily kid trap maker or an unstoppable robot to protect it, you also are not likely to face an aggressive intruder. Crime statistics show that violent crime has been decreasing dramatically over the last few decades, and most invasions happen when no one is there. A simple camera set-up, good locks, and great insurance is often enough to protect your family and your property.